December 26, 2012

Well, it’s been a crazy year. I started writing the column at the start of the Season Six, around a spring that saw an unfortunately timed storm. Natural disasters, political campaigns, and the printing of Thragtusk, the world saw it all in 2012 (except for the end of it, thank you Mayans).

But we saw the beginning of the new year with our Return to Ravnica, and a plethora of useable cards, especially in Commander. The collectors got new shinies, casuals got cheaper duels, and we all got the early previews for the new Gatecrash set.

Every year’s got it’s good and it’s bad, but they always have an end too. Just like the year, this column’s got an end, which is going to be this one. With what I’ve got planned for the upcoming year, I’m erring on the side of keeping my finger out of too many pies. I might return to the column someday but, for now at least, I’m getting ready to call it quits for the writing gig.

So, to send ya’ll off with an end of the year classic: a fictional narrative about my journey as a planeswalker, and the paths it crossed.

December 20, 2012

By William aka BlueRam“I will trade life for life with the insurgents. Our resources, unlike theirs, are limitless.”—Davvol, Evincar of Rath (Attrition)

Enter those who are starving and sick. You are welcome among the Swarm when the rest of Ravnica rejects you. (Golgari Guildgate)

“Are you going to remake my deck?”

“Shut up, Ghave.”

“No, really, when are you going to remake my deck?”

“I’m not, so shut up.”

You might know that I have a plethora of decks in my arsenal. You might also know that a certain fungus shaman was decommissioned not only for being way too powerful, but for creating combos that hurt my head.

It didn’t take him long to start demanding his position again, but after the unsatisfying victories he led too, I was reluctant to give in…at least, that was the case until From the Vaults: Realms came out, and I finally had a Murmuring Bosk. I don’t like not using special edition cards like FTV, so I really only had one thing I could do with it…

December 13, 2012

“The feeble resistance of the flesh is over. Phyrexia spreads its shadow over all.” -Life’s Finale

“The emergence of the Eldrazi isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as you’ve already lived a fulfilling and complete life without regrets.”—Javad Nasrin, Ondu relic hunter ~All is Dust

The Praetors. If you haven’t seen one by now, consider yourself either lucky, or brain-dead. These five pillars of misery bring forth doom and despair upon anyone on the wrong side of the fence with a hulking display of power and suppression. They are the pinnacle Magic villainy. At one point, it was believed that these cards would be so overpowered that they would be banned from EDH completely.

Any time a player brought one of these praetors to the front lines you can expect panic and mayhem to ensue. These lords of suppression demand immediate attention. If they’re not countered, then the spot removal rains down on them. Urabrask and Sheoldred might be stopped, as can Jin-Gitaxias (if you’re quick enough), but Elesh Norn and Vorinclex both have immediate impacts on the game, wiping out creatures and locking down mana in one fell swoop.

A lot of people are still sore that Wizards ever released such horrors upon us and call them out as idiots who don’t know how to design for Commander. I, however, praise how well their design works.

December 6, 2012

“Day 31: I finally succeeded i my time reversal experiment!“Day 30: I might have a problem here.” ~Journal of the Prime Izmagnus-Inspiration

Foreword

The following has been translated from near-indecipherable handwriting. At this time it is unclear if the original author knew what he was doing, or if he was just touched in the head. I’ve done my best to transcribe the records for your enjoyment, in their entirety, without misrepresentations. I would ask the original author what some of these notes meant, but unfortunately I was unable to track him down for comments. As such, I will provide commentary and translator’s notes when appropriate to explain certain references or to take an educated guess at what’s going on.

So for what it’s worth, I hope you enjoy this series of experiments concocted by one, William aka BlueRam.

November 1, 2012

By William aka BlueRam Olivia Voldaren“In Rakdos-controlled neighborhoods, everyone is part of the show.” -Dreadbore
Welcome boys and girls, to my very own little piece of Commandercast treasure as well as our season finale. I am Olivia Voldaren, and I shall be your host on this evening after the glorious night of All Hallow’s Eve. Oh, I do hope you all enjoyed your sweets. I know I will. <3

Last week, William got a challenge to create a circus-themed Rakdos deck. Of course, I had to persuade him otherwise, and by “persuade”, I mean I asked him to chop an onion for me and the acid blinded him.

I thought they were tacky anyway.

Since he won’t be able to see anything for at least a week, I kindly volunteered my services to pen the article myself. Aren’t I a sweet thing?